What We Know About Dylan McDermott’s ‘FBI: Most Wanted’ Character
The Fugitive Task Force on FBI: Most Wanted has lost its leader, and it might have just happened, but we — and they, soon — must look to the future. We already know who will (eventually) be coming in to fill the hole left by Jess LaCroix’s (Julian McMahon) death — Dylan McDermott (Law & Order: Organized Crime) — but what do we actually know about his character?
First of all, we know there are two episodes until McDermott’s character (whose name has yet to be released) arrives, in the April 12 episode, the 17th of the season. Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille (FBI‘s Alana De La Garza) will appear in the next new episode (airing March 22) as the team figures out how they move on while grieving and who’s going to be in charge (for the time being). “Ultimately these people are professional enough to get the job done and they work through it and it’s actually a nice story of them figuring out how to do it,” showrunner and executive producer David Hudgins told TV Insider.
The obvious pick seems to be Sheryll Barnes (Roxy Sternberg), but a recent episode also saw Jess let Kristin Gaines (Alexa Davalos) take lead and dish out assignments as they started working a case. Considering that Jess’ death is obviously going to hit Barnes harder — she knew him longer, and they were “work spouses,” as the EP noted — perhaps that moment was to show why it makes sense for Kristin to be taking over temporarily.
Hudgins wouldn’t share much about McDermott’s character just yet, but with him comes the “opportunity to reinvigorate, to shake up the dynamic.” Once he joins the team, who will be “eagerly awaiting to see what happens when he gets there,” it’ll be “off to the races.” But while doing just that, the agents will have to get used to their new leader and he to them. When it comes to how he leads, Hudgins shared, they thought of having “somebody who does have a different style than Jess, somebody who has a different outlook, maybe approaches the cases in a different way, but ultimately just like Jess, is motivated by justice, by getting the fugitive in every episode.”
But might McDermott’s character have history with any of the team that could lend itself to making the transition easier or harder, depending on just what that might be? We can’t help but wonder after Hudgins said, “I don’t want to get too far into spoiler land. The answer to that is no at this point.” We wouldn’t be surprised if that’s something that will only be revealed onscreen.
Right now, all we can do is wait to find out more about the new leader. But being in the dark about McDermott’s character on a Dick Wolf show isn’t anything new. After all, Richard Wheatley’s fate on Law & Order: Organized Crime remains up in the air, after McDermott’s last episode of the NBC drama saw his and Tamara Taylor‘s characters drive off a cliff. Only her body has been found. It’s possible his fate on there might depend on what FBI: Most Wanted does with him, considering it’s hard to imagine him playing both roles at the same time.
Hopefully we don’t have to wait until April 12 to get at least some answers about this new FBI: Most Wanted character.
FBI: Most Wanted, Tuesdays, 10/9c, CBS
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I really hate you killed Jess. I'm not sure McDermott is a good fit.
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Well know and acknowledge that the writers did not just decide to kill Jess off the show, McMahon wished to leave to move on to other projects. Same thing with Kalen Lutz, he also asked to resign. I know, its tough pills to swallow. Hopefully they can bring it all together and make it all work somehow!
Yes, I agree with you that McDermott possibly not being a good fit at all. Especially due to the fact that he's fresh off a major role acting so very fiercly as the villain on the other side of the law as Richard Wheatley on Law & Order Organized Crime. Now we're just to accept as the the character as a Lead FBI Agent? That's gonna be very tough for me, as I've watched every single one of The Law & Order Organized Crime episodes! But, you gotta give it up to McDermitt THE MAN IS ONE EXTRODINARY ACTOR! Let us all stay tuned and support the ratings of these DICK WOLF SHOWS which are still aired on Network NBC Television, so that they're not ever carted off to PPV Streaming Services like HULU & PEACOCK TV!!!!
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Would have liked to see Gary Sinise in place of Dylan McDermot
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Love Dylan
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What a great idea😀
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Gary Sinise would be a great fit!!
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I am sick over Jess getting killed and that McDermott is being brought in to replace him is a terrible idea. To replace a beloved character with someone who has been playing such a horrible person on another show is a very bad idea. I can think of a lot of people that played characters that were loved on other shows or even people from FBI to take over. This was a bad idea and I don't think the fans will go for it. I don't know if I will be able to watch because I can not stand McDermott and I loved Julian McMahon I am so disappointed he wanted to leave the show. I loved it in the beginning when he lived with his in laws and they watched Tali and his brother in law worked with him. I never understood why that all changed. In my opinion a good show has been ruined. I love all the FBI's and Blue Bloods is my very favorite show. I am sad !
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I agree with u too...I don't like McDermott....I think he is the wrong character
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The character doesn't come on for another month you don't know the character yet the actor and character are two different things.
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I agree with you. McDermott is a terrible choice. Maybe if he hadn't played such a bad person on Law & Order organized crime, it would be different. They need another actor in that role.
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Maybe McDermott's character can figure out how to catch DANGEROUS ARMED fugitives without a protracted footchase in every. single. episode. It's getting old and makes agents look incompetent. After all the magnificent federal brainwork to unlock encrypted laptops, ping phones, interview witnesses in multiple states face-to-face and piece together intricate remote details of the weekly crime, back exits are never covered and the criminal escapes. ("Oh, look Agent K...he runned away AGAIN!!!!!!!") Another favorite scene is for agents to yell at them from across the (always crowded) street that happens to abut multiple alleys with loose trash cans and locked gates, with the same result. Then the runners are always caught by the partner who runs faster than Superman and tackles the perp 16 blocks away, never out of breath. Will the agents EVER learn??!!
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You're so right! I was just thinking about that and like Chicago PD, why do they yell when they're not even close enough to get the person? The writers of these shows need to fix this and seriously give the "chases" a break!
Katherine
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Please keep him off Organized Crime. What a horrible character There is enough crazy going on in the world, so enough rotten for awhile
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Why him ??? McDermontt ??? He has not good on any shows, that’s why all his show on TV were all either cancelled or not being renewed .
He’s not good to replace Jess,
la croix & why you’ve to kill him ,he was good in FBI: Most Wanted.
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The actor (Julian McMahon) decided to do something else. His choice.
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Love Mcdermontt, love him on his last show can’t wait for it to come on . Sorry Jess left but that was his choic He wanted to leave best Wishes to you
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How you decided Dylan McDermott should come in to FBI:MW is beyond my understanding. I would have any other actor! Jess' character had a real feel for his team, deep profiling talent, stayed in touch with his humanity, a certain mystery to his thinking...great in the field. Dylan can't possibly bring any aspect of this character in. Also, bring in another good looking post military man with fire in his belly. Don't care for the woman who was brought in..for "temporary fill in" Need some spark to your characters! FBI:MW was dynamite don't turn it into a mere firecracker please!
Katherine
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The man hasn’t even started give him a break
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I don't need to wait till he's started to voice my opinion on his skills when developing a character. I've seen him in many genres, he's not the man for this job. Just giving him and them the chance to rethink their choices!! Katherine
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Not going to be easy accepting him as a good guy, after "hating him soooooo much" on Law and Order!
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WHY OH WHY? Did you kill Jess off. It’s earth shattering…Thanks for being Jess!
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Because he wanted to leave the show
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PLEASE not Kristin! I have to keep remoting the volume up when she "Swisspers" her words. It gets quite annoying.🤨
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Dylan Mcdermott is a fantastic actor I'm looking forward to the change !
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The show will go on. McDermont is a great actor and i think everyone will be surprised.
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I don't know if the show will be the same now that Jess has been killed off. I think McDermott is a good actor but I don't see him as Jess's replacement and hate his role in L&O OC. Will be missing Jess Mccroy!
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Would have been nice to know the article included spoilers (Jess died) for those who have not watched Monday’s episode. Knew he was leaving, but not how on the show.
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I love Dylan McDermott's acting and I'm sure he'll be great on FBI's Most Wanted. Give him a chance.
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The tv series Randsom was amazing, strong and his character was trilling even with his family entanglement the nemesis, he gave power to being a parent and those limits that we go beyond for kids. It was a powerful performance that I honestly can't wait to see as he eases into the roll of Jess. jess's not replaceable but I'm definitely going to be looking forward to seeing how it plays out. After all the character shifts in this show have been so frequently changed that as hard to lose one is, the new characters always show how strong an addition they are, not a loss. I see this the same
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I don't like McDermot....he is an ok actor...but he really hasn't been that great in any shows he has been on...and I won't even watch that Law & Order he was in...the previews leave me disgusted...
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Noon! Jess can't be dead! I was so sad to see him leave but I thought until the end that he was gonna get his happy ending and retire, go off with Sarah and watch Cali grow up. I was so shocked and sad to see that they killed him off. Sarah deserved better as did Cali; they've both been through enough without making them lose their main love.
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I don’t like McDermott n I’m so angry I believe they could have found a better replacement.
I just don’t see him being great for the show.
I’m sorry n not sure I will be continuing to watch it. As much as I love all 3 FBI most wanted was my second best
I’m sad
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Won’t be watching with Dylan on the show.
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Can’t stand him! Not watching anymore
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Sad they killed off Jess, but the show will indeed go on. Don't really care that people won't watch anymore, nor does the network.
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I loved Jess's character from the very start & will miss him very much. I like Dylan M. alot also but don't know how it is going to work out with him. I just hope it's not another mistake like THREE & A HALF MEN was when they removed Charlie ugh!!!
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McDermott played such an evil character on law&order:organized crime, I can't picture him on FBI: most wanted, without that persona. Hope he overcome that. Good character actor.
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The show I can't wait to see - McDermott's new character on Most Wanted goes after Richard Wheatley from L&O: OC, leaving him to play both roles. Totally absurd, two different shows on two different networks, but you can bet in a crossover like that, everyone would tune in to watch it! (Not to mention if Bobby Donnell from The Practice shows up to defend the gangster!) Now THAT would be Must See TV.
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I don't understand, how you can have Dylen McDermott play the new FBI SAC for the Fugitive Task Force after playing a fugitive in the same universe? Remember, once they had Hailey Upton character from Chicago PD come on the show FBI as that character, the door has been opened for every show to be linked to each other in the L&O Universe. L&O SVU is linked to all of the Chicago shows and also being linked to L&O OC. So, once Chicago PD got linked to FBI, that opened the door that FBI, FBI MW, and FBI International to be linked to L&O OC. I know that there are characters from the original L&O playing characters in Chicago Med and FBI now, but the actors whom those characters haven't been given a new character in this universe immediately after completing a totally different character.
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I think he should come out as having been an undercover FBI agent in the NBC show and he transfers to the CBS show so the crime family in NYC doesn't know he was an agent. would take some creative cooperation between networks, but would be cool.
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